Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-11-11

ures. IL was not some crazy craft creep.
ing along the coast with valueless cargo
that the pirates attacked, but the ship, full
winged and tagged. playing between great
more your natural and acquired accom-
plishments, the more need Of the religion
of Jesus. That does not cut in upon or
hack up any smoothness Of disposition or
behavior. IT gives symmetry. 1t arrests
that in the soul which ought to be arrested,
and propels that which ought to be pro.
PEELED. It fills up the gulleys. 1t elevates
and transforms. TO beauty it gives more
beauty, to tact more tact, to enthusiasm Of
nature more enthusiasm, When the Holy
Spirit impresses the image of God on the
heart He does not spoil the canvas. If in
oil the multitudes of young men upon
whom religion has acted you could find
one nature that had been the least dam
aged, I would yield this proposition. You
may now have enough strength of cbarac-
ter to repel the various tempta-
tions to gross wickedness which
assail you, but I do not know in
what strait you may be thrust at some
future time. Nothing short Of the grace Of
the cross may then be able to deliver you
from the lions. You are not meeker than
Moses. nor holier than David, nor more
patient than JOB, and you ought not to
j
have some weak point of character that
you have never discovered, and in some
hour when you are assaulted the Phillis.
tines will be upon thee, Samson. Trust
not in your good habits, or your early
training, or your pride of character; MOTH
ing short of the arm of Almighty God
will be sufficient to uphold you. You look
forward to the world sometimes with q
chilling dependency. Cheer up! will
tell you how you all may make fortune:
Seek first the kingdom OF God and his
added unto you" know you do not
want to be mean in this matter. Give God
the freshness of your life. You will not
have the heart to drink down the trimming
cup of life and then pour the dregs on
Gods altar. To Saviour so infinitely gen.
erous you have not the heart to act like
that. That is not brave, that is not honor
able, that is not manly. Your greatest
want in all the world is new heart. In
Gods name I tell you that. And the
Blessed Spirit presses through the solem-
mites and privileges of this holy hour.
Put the cup of life eternal to your thirsty
lips. Thrust it not back. Mercy offers it,
bleeding mercy, ong-sufering mercy. Re-
ject all other friendships; be ungrateful
for all other kindness, prove recreant to
oil other bargains, but despise Gods love
for your immortal soul-dont you do that.
would like to see some of you this
hour press out of the ranks of the world
and lay your conquered spirit at the feet
of Jesus. This hour is no wandering vaga-
bond staggering over the earth; it is q
winged messenger ofthe skies whispering
mercy to thy soul. Life is smooth now,
and precipitate. There comes crisis in
the history of every man. We seldom un-
derstand that turning point until it is far
past. The road of life is forked and
read on two signboards: "This is the way
to happiness" "This is the way to ruin"
How apt we are to pass the forks of the
road without thinking whether it comes
out at the door of bliss or the gates of dark
ness.
Many years ago stood on the ami
versary platform with minister of Christ
who made this remarkable statement:
Thirty years ago two young men started
out in the evening to attend the Park
Theater, New York, where play was to
be acted in which the cause of religion was
to be placed in ridiculous and hypo-
critical light. They came to the steps.
The consciences of both smote them. One
started to go home, but returned again to
the door, and yet had not courage to enter,
and finally departed. But the other young
man entered the pit OF the theater. 1t was
the turning point in the history of those
was caught in the whirl of temptation. He
sank deeper and deeper in infamy. He
was lost. The other young man was saved,
and he now stands before you to bless God
that for twenty years he has been per-
mitted to preach the Gospel.
"Rejoice, o young man, in thy youth,
and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of
thy youth; but know thou that for all these
things God will bring thee into Judgment